An Austin bachelor weekend

Which weekend

Spring, from late March to May, and fall, from late September to November, are the best months; summer is very hot. Avoid South by Southwest in mid March and the two ACL Fest weekends in October unless you are going for them, and check the Formula 1 race weekend in the fall: hotels and houses cost far more on all of them. April is a good month, with the bats back at the bridge and the lake warm enough for a boat.

Where to stay

Downtown, Rainey Street and East Austin keep the nights walkable. South Congress and Travis Heights are a little calmer, with good restaurants and a short ride into town. A rental house is the usual choice for eight; check the rules for groups, parking and noise before you pay, and pick one with a yard if the group wants to eat in.

The lake day

A party boat on Lake Travis is the center of most Austin bach weekends. Book a captained pontoon or party barge for the group weeks ahead, from a marina on the lake, and check what you may bring on board, how many people it takes and where to park. The lake is about 45 minutes from downtown, so book rides both ways and do not plan anything tight for that evening.

A 3-day plan

Friday: arrive, sunset from Mount Bonnell if flights land early, then Rainey Street. Saturday: breakfast tacos, the boat on Lake Travis, the bats at the Congress Avenue Bridge at dusk, a two-step lesson at the Broken Spoke and Sixth Street late. Sunday: the line at Franklin Barbecue, or Barton Springs for a cold swim, and the airport.

For a bachelorette

Keep the lake day and Rainey Street, and swap Sixth Street for a dinner on South Congress, a pool day at the house or a hotel, and shopping on South Congress Avenue. The Broken Spoke works for both: a two-step lesson is the most fun hour of the weekend for most groups.

Budget per person

A rough range for two nights is $650 to $1,400 per person, before flights. The house is the biggest share, then the boat, dinners and drinks. Agree on the number before anything is booked, and on whether the groom’s or the bride’s share is covered by the others.

What to pack

Swimsuit, sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses for the lake, boots or comfortable shoes for the dance hall, and a light layer for spring evenings. Matching shirts, a cooler and the speaker go on the shared list with a name on each.

Splitting the money

One person usually books the house and the boat on one card. Record each expense with the payer and how it is split: evenly, or by exact amounts so the guest of honor pays nothing. Awayfolk works out who owes whom and records repayments; it does not move money, so settle up with Venmo, Zelle or whatever the group uses.

A copied example trip starts its money in US dollars.